AC Parnell

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AC Parnell: Bio

AC Parnell (they/she) is an emerging artist and educator of Irish settler heritage living on Gadigal and Wangal Land. They completed their honours in the Sculpture and Spatial Practice department of the Australian National University in 2021.

Their background in ceramics informs their current work both aesthetically and materially. Yet, in their current work, materials have shifted to occupy metaphorical places. Currently, Parnell is interested in combining ceramic materials with experimental processes such as non-traditional glaze application, Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and performance to explore material agency and challenge the Western studio craft paradigm.

Parnell has exhibited work locally and internationally and their work is held in private collections in Australia and overseas. Their first solo show was at Strathnairn Arts (Canberra) and their work has been included in multiple group shows including Talente 2021 (Munich). Parnell has received various awards and scholarships, including the Peter and Lena Karmel Honours Scholarship (2021), the Hiroe Swen award (2020) and the Strathnairn Arts Residency (2020). Parnell also teaches ceramics at various private studios across Sydney, and regularly hosts a workshop called “Gay Clay”, where the queer community can learn ceramics skills.

AC Parnell

AC Parnell: CV November, 2025

AC Parnell CV
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Education

2021
Bachelor of Visual Art (First Class Hons.)
Australian National University School of Art and Design
2019
Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship
Australian National University School of Art and Design
2018
Exchange program
Stockholm University Sweden

Solo exhibitions

2023
okay computer teach me pottery
Darlington Install Project, Sydney, Australia
2021
clay is like a rock, glaze is like glass
Strathnairn Arts Association, Canberra, Australia

Two person exhibitions

2026
AC Parnell & ADHOC
Stanley Street Gallery, Darlinghurst, Australia

Group exhibitions

2024
Collecting Sand with a Fork
Tiles Lewisham, Sydney, Australia
2023
The Potter and the Poet: Reverberance showcase
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, in collaboration with BLECK
Bodies Without Organs
Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra, Australia
Tracing Change
Modern Times, Melbourne, Australia
Matter
GangGang Gallery, Canberra, Australia
Rainbow Takeover
Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT, Australia
How do I refer to you?
AirSpace Projects, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Death and Becoming
The Bearded Tit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2022
Pretty Good
Tiles Lewisham, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Being Here
Tributary Projects, Canberra, ACT, Australia
The Inevitability of Growth
ANCA, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2021
Graduating Exhibition 2021
ANU School of Art and Design, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2020
The Chef and The Potter
Canberra Potters Society, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Emerging Contemporaries National Exhibition Award
Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2019
Graduating Exhibition 2019
ANU School of Art and Design Canberra, ACT, Australia

Awards and achievements

2022
Finalist, TALENTE
Munich, Germany
2021
Winner, Country to Coast Residency Award
Canberra, Australia
Finalist, National Emerging Art Prize
Sydney, Australia
2020
Winner, Anita McIntyre Residency Award
Canberra, Australia
2019
Winner, Hiroe and Cornell Swen Award
Canberra, Australia
Winner, Walker Ceramics Material Award
Canberra, Australia
2021
Peter and Lena Karmel Honours Scholarship

Residencies & Workshops

2023
Gay Clay
Craft ACT, Canberra, Australia
Gay Clay, World Pride Edition
National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia
Gay Clay
Inner West Creative Trails, Sydney, Australia
Gay Clay
Craft ACT, Canberra, Australia
2022
Gay Clay
Join the Dots, Sydney, Australia

Collections

Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Strathnairn Arts Association, Canberra, Australia.
Private Collections, Australia.
Private Collections, Tokyo, Japan.

Reviews and publicity

Claire de Carteret “Ceramics in the Absence of Clay: ‘How do I refer to you?’ Review”, FBI Radio, June 6 2023. https://fbiradio.com/how-do-i-refer-to-you-review/


Barbie Robinson “Annie Parnell – Clay is like Stone, Glaze is like Rock”, Living Arts Canberra, February 13, 2021. https://www.livingartscanberra.com.au/annie-parnell-clay-is-like-stone-glaze-is-like-rock/


Rachel Coghlan “The Future is Bright”, Journal of Australian Ceramics, Volume 59 (1), April 2020. p. 104-105

Books

2023
“Thinking through making through thinking”, How do I refer to you?
Discipline in Context, Airspace Gallery, Sydney
2022
“Thinking through / abject poetic”
Chiaro Magazine, Canberra

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